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Most people these days throw away their umbrella when it breaks rather than fixing it, meaning that the art of umbrella repair is slowly fading away. But in the “rainy city” of Keelung, one repairman has stayed in business for 35 years and counting, although he only works on rainy days. While he could have retired long ago, he stays in business for his loyal customers. After all, he’s not just fixing umbrellas—he’s keeping a Keelung pastime alive.

This repairman barely had time to finish parking before his loyal customers showed up to buy umbrellas. Whenever he has a moment, he works on repairs.

Peering through his glasses, he carefully strips the ribs and rivets from an old umbrella and replaces them with new ones, giving new life to an item destined for the trash.

This is umbrella repairman Chang Chin-chang. He’s been in the trade for 35 years. From classic local brands to expensive imports, nothing is too difficult for him. Since he spent a decade working at an umbrella factory, after a failed business venture, he fell back on selling and fixing umbrellas for a living.

Chang Chin-chang
Umbrella repairman
Since my business failed, I felt a lot of pressure.

He managed to carve out a niche for himself, with his wife acting as a capable assistant. He gradually built a reputation within local markets and night markets, earning a loyal following. Although he’s well past retirement age, he keeps working to make sure his regulars have someone to go to. But his hours are unique: He only works on rainy days.

Chang Chin-chang
Umbrella repairman
If seniors over 70 or 80 come to me for a repair, I’ll do it for free. I turn the fabric into bags and save the other parts as spares. I try to keep the waste to a minimum.

Chang fixes what can be saved and recycles whatever can’t, turning this dying craft into a hallmark of Taiwan’s rainy city. He proves that in Keelung, the community spirit is the one thing that will never wash away.

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